Shapeless – Like Water (2014) 4 min.
for 2 treble voices

Performed by Bullis Charter School Advanced choir MELODIA directed by David Belles
May 20, 2015 at First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, CA.

Program Notes
Bruce Lee’s most famous quote is an amalgamation of a lot of different philosophies he studied. It is basically about adaptability. Being able to adapt to any situation is an important skill to have. I knew I would be writing for middle school students and I wanted to write something that would actually teach them something. I have applied Bruce Lee’s philosophies a lot in my life, especially music. I find myself absorbing multiple types of sound and music and using them despite their disparity. Different things coming together often produce beautiful new creations.

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”